Is Twitter the New Face of Diplomacy?
The world was shocked when it was released that North Korea joined Twitter. In a land where censorship is nothing out of the ordinary, joining a social network like Twitter seemed like an unlikely move. The official Twitter account, @uriminzok has a surprising 10,000 followers but it doesn’t follow a single other account. With quick help from Google Translate, the Twitter feed can be roughly translated to English but this provides little help in understanding many of the tweets. Why join a social network if one does not intend to be social?
Despite a lack of interaction via Twitter, US State Department Spokesman Phillip J. Crowley has made numerous attempts to create a dialog between the US and North Korea with pointed tweets and hashtags of #Korea. He has even gone so far as to specifically reference the country’s censorship on public communication saying, “The North Korean government has joined Twitter, but is it prepared to allow its citizens to be connected as well?” Crowley is referencing a known penchant for the North Korean government for censoring media. It is believed that despite the government’s involvement in social media, the people of the country are actually unable to view such content. This paradoxical situation seems quite unfair to most of the world.
Twitter is not the only social media outlet North Korea is engaging in. They are also found on Facebook and YouTube. Is this a new form of diplomacy or just a new way to fight back at accusations? North Korea has yet to respond directly to any tweets or posts, yet they continue to tweet and post their own content which includes making accusations and harsh comments towards both South Korea and the United States. Social media could be just a way to progress their political agenda instead of communicate with the outside world. Until a response is given however, why not continue trying to reach out using social media as the new form of diplomacy?
Social Media Reveals Political Tensions in Foreign Affairs
In the United States, we often take free speech and other First Amendment rights for granted. It seems as though every other day the news reports of other countries censoring the media, particularly social media. Although we have a right to express our opinion and share our thoughts, we must remind ourselves that we must do so without being disrespectful or rude. Just as we are entitled to our own beliefs, so is everyone else. This does not come without consequence. Relations between Israel and the Palestinians have been on shaky ground for what seems like forever. Thanks to Facebook and a careless photo post, that relationship and the true character of some people have been brought to light.
Monday the Israeli military, which prides itself on discipline and ethics, saw harsh criticism after a soldier posted a photo on her Facebook page smiling in front of bound and blindfolded Palestinian captives. Many see this photo as inappropriate given the joking nature portrayed in it as well as the already high tension between Israel and the Palestinians. Sadly, this is not the first time the Israeli military has had issues with social media. They had their five minutes of YouTube fame when one Israeli unit patrolling the West Bank broke out into choreographed dance on camera. Were they being disrespectful or were they just trying to pass the time? While the rest of the world sees the Israel-Palestinian conflict to be very serious, these incidents reveal how light some Israeli military personnel are viewing the situation. Making light of their patrols or showing joy at nabbing captives is not appropriate behavior given how long this conflict has been going on and how many lives have been lost to violence. The US military knows some of their pain. In 2003, military guards took similar snapshots of Iraqi detainees. When they surfaced, the guards were promptly removed and punished with jail time for prisoner abuse. It is a public outrage when these things occur. Military personnel are expected to behave accordingly when they are wearing the uniform; to carry out the values their uniforms stand for.
Even though we see Facebook, Twitter, and personal blogs as our own sites or outlets, too often we forget that they are still public, to some extent. Social media naturally is a public world of web connections. That does not mean we can be crass and disrespectful. Hateful comments, posts, pictures, or videos still receive scrutiny. Everyone has their own opinion but tact makes all of the difference.
Do you think there should be a social media code of ethics on posted content?
Is It Time to Set New Internet Regulations for Political Campaigns?
A California watchdog group has recently released a report calling for more uniform regulations for internet use of “new media” in political campaigns. This is aiming at social media particularly and if people are being paid to tweet or post on behalf of political candidates or their fundraising committees. The commission report also calls for California to update is legislation regarding campaigns and media use so that it includes the latest technologies and media platforms. Could this be the start of a trend? Perhaps all states should look at their campaign regulations and integrate new social media into them. With mid-term elections on the horizon, a surge in social media use by politicians is expected. With the rise in popularity, political candidates are using Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and many other social networks to interact with their audience and convey their campaign message. Although this is a natural evolution in campaign strategy, the same rules guiding traditional media messages should be applied. Social media is the new, more powerful, version of word-of-mouth which makes it more important to adhere to professional behavior guidelines when it comes to a campaign and more importantly, candidate opponents.
The UK Government Takes New Steps to Allow Citizens to Have a Voice in Policy
The United Kingdom government has sought out Facebook to learn how to allow citizens to interact with the government and let their voices and opinions be heard (from Mashable). With Prime Minister David Cameron’s latest plan to take on spending cuts, he began looking for ways to let those he serves have input on the policy changes. He is exploring how Facebook can serve as the primary channel for the UK government to not only connect with users but also serve as an information resource. The program, dubbed “The Spending Challenge” has already seen success. Could this be the start of a new trend? Democracy faces many challenges today and among the top ones is the feeling that there is a lack of democracy. Many voters in America feel like their vote doesn’t matter or their voice is ignored. By opening up direct communication, this could be changed. Assuming the spending challenge achieves its goals in the UK, many other governments could look into copying the project as a way of improving communication between the government and its people.
Social Media is a Continuous Political Polling System
Obama’s first Oval Office address took place this week to update America on the BP oil crisis. The reaction and backlash from his short speech was quickly seen via social media outlets Facebook and Twitter. As Mashable reports, many users were unhappy with Obama’s speech. The article did highlight how social media has become the virtual water cooler for politics today. What is really unique about this trend is that political candidates and those already in office can have direct feedback with their constituents as they “fan” or “like” posts on Facebook and then tweet about them. Followers are likely to share their honest opinions via social media as well giving the politician a clearer insight into those he or she actually represents. 
Companies such as Twitalyzer or Twitteranalyzer have made it easy to get statistics about a Twitter account. Statistics such as how many retweets or mentions an account is receiving is available with just a click of a button. The disadvantage of social media serving as the new water cooler is that it makes word-of-mouth that much more important. Information can spread at a seemingly lightning speed because it is literally at our fingertips. If someone votes on a bill or piece of legislation that constituents do not agree with, it only takes a few seconds for word to get out and spread throughout the virtual world.
Using Social Media in a Slightly Different Way
Twitter, Facebook, and similar information sharing social media networks usually inform followers what someone is doing, what is new with them, or what is on their mind. However, former governor Rod Blagojevich are using social media to update followers on their corruption trial. This is a slightly different way to incorporate social media into one’s daily life. Talk about finding a new way to get the media on your side. Blagojevich’s corruption trial involving his activities while governor of Illinois began this week and Blagojevich tweeted that he was excited for the trial to begin. Blagojevich is charged with racketeering, bribery conspiracy, extortion, and wire fraud. Clearly, Blagojevich is using social media to his advantage. He has constantly affirmed that he did nothing wrong while he was in office and revealed his confidence again via Twitter saying, “The truth is on our side.”
Former Governor Rod Blagojevich
Often, media is restricted in high profile court proceedings. Here, Blagojevich is doing his part to share what is happening inside with everyone interested on the outside. This brings up a unique issue between those in the public eye and the public itself. I feel that frequently we here celebrities, politicians, and other high profile individuals complaining about a lack of privacy. They say they are never actually alone and that they don’t like what it has done to their daily lives. In this case, Blagojevich is inviting the public to be more involved in his life. Most politicians would prefer to keep events inside the court room strictly inside the court room, regardless of guilt or innocence. I find it intriguing that Blagojevich’s newest campaign is not for an election, but merely for support and he eliminates all barriers in his power to reach his audience. Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, and YouTube provide the means to share any information with social media users. This is both good and bad information; biased and unbiased. There is also a greater element of freedom which is also a risk. Politicians know this. Celebrities know this. That being said, is there really room for a private life when you put yourself in the public eye? It will be interesting to see if Blagojevich can win a victory of support through his information sharing as the trial goes on. Despite any public favor gained through his latest campaign, those inside the court will be the ones to decide regardless of how many tweets Blagojevich makes protesting his innocence.
Facebook and Politics, A Blossoming Relationship (Part 2)
Part two of this series focuses on Facebook’s virtual relationship with Congress. Facebook’s Congress on Facebook page exists as another way Facebook is involving itself in aiding the connection between politics and the people. Congress on Facebook, run by Facebook, features updates on how congressmen are using Facebook as a part of their campaigns. Upon perusing the wall of the page, I noticed more posts by Facebook about Facebook than I did about congressman.
- Congress on Facebook
There were some posts about congressmen using Facebook to facilitate town hall meetings, etc. but most of them were relating to Facebook’s current privacy crisis. One post even invited congressional members to attend their Capitol Hill meeting about privacy. I was very surprised, however, to see how the page conveniently links visitors to participating members of both the House and the Senate’s pages. It is a great resource for users to find and connect with their own representatives and senators. Visitors can see how many people are fans of each member of Congress on Facebook and go to their page directly and see what they are up to on the hill. It seemed like an easy way to combat the often felt perception that members of Congress sit up there on the hill and don’t do anything. At least on Facebook, visitors can read more about issues on the table in real time as well as how many congressmen feel about them. There are also links to discussions and notes posted by congressmen which help give the people a more direct way to voice their opinions to their representatives. I guess it seems we have finally reached the stage where writing to your congressman means posting on their Facebook. John King’s report on CNN, “Lawmakers joining Facebook” further examined how much social media traffic there is out there and why congress is jumping on board, particularly republicans. Barack Obama may have started the trend, but social media and politics has become a full blown tidal wave.
Facebook and Politics, A Blossoming Relationship (Part 1)
Yesterday, Mashable reported that Facebook launched its US Politics Page at the Personal Democracy Forum in New York City. This page is geared to reveal how much Facebook has been integrated into political campaigns and politics in general. This page is a great resource to maintain up-to-date knowledge on the issues facing politics today. It also serves as a place where visitors can have their voice heard and also connect with others sharing similar beliefs. By integrating politics so conveniently into Facebook, an interface already so wildly popular, I believe debates of hot topics will intensify but also that people will begin to show more active involvement in politics. The US Politics Page posted the “Rock the Vote” logo as a favorite image reminding page visitors to vote in elections exemplifies this point. Barack Obama is often seen as being a pioneer at using Facebook as part of a political campaign, a smart move since he obviously cannot be everywhere simultaneously nor can he reach all voters face-to-face. This mentality can be utilized by all politicians and Facebook is the solution to reaching out to your audience from your home base. As election season starts to come around, Facebook and politics will become even more intermingled.
courtesy of mashable
CNN’s Infusion of News, Politics, and Social Media
The major news network CNN and anchor Rick Sanchez have bridged the gap between airtime and watchers. Rick’s List airs daily from 3-5 pm ET on CNN during which Rick discusses hot topics, news, and other issues, which sounds like any ordinary news show. The catch is this: Rick uses social media to connect to watchers in real time. He shows on air the tweets at him and facebook wall posts consumers leave in response to different segments on the show allowing the audience to actually participate in the broadcast! Prior to the show, Rick will even ask his twitter followers for input. Recently, Al and Tipper Gore have announced their plans to separate. The Gulf Spill is still suffering massive setbacks to stop the oil from spewing out. Israel unrest is becoming a major threat and concern for the US. In response to these events, Rick asked his followers “u guys want more gore, oil, or Israeli?” via twitter giving them the chance to weigh in on what they want to hear about.
The downside to this infiltration of social media and news is that it leaves room for bias. Rick’s recent tweet exemplifies what I’m getting at. On the news of the Gore separation, “Breaking News! We just got word about the Gores. Working guests now. What do you think? How much of this is NEWS & how much GOSSIP?” That is the question: how much of this is gossip and how much is real? This feeds into a bigger issue. How much of this is opinion and how much is fact? The news is supposed to be an unbiased representation of what is occurring in the world at-large. Yes, the audience deserves to have its voice be heard but in an already dramatically polarized society, have we crossed the line? Is there still such a thing as an unbiased media?
when it comes to health care, Facebook is part social media, part political forum
Here’s an article from the Tampa Tribune on Facebook’s role in political debate among the American public.
That kid who popped you with rubber bands in fourth grade, now the avid Glenn Beck fan, normally abides peacefully, post by post, with your professor of feminist theory.
Everybody’s a friend on Facebook.
But opinion on perhaps the most politically charged issue since social media began – the healthcare bill – is bleeding into sites normally reserved for photos of babies and Farmville updates.
Not everyone is happy about that.
“I don’t think Facebook is the place for politics,” says David Aman of Plant City. “It’s more of a friendship thing. It’s too easy to be misunderstood.”
Generations raised never to speak about religion and politics in polite company are finding such taboo topics mixed in with run-of-the-mill personal updates.
Conservatives may find it offensive when they are asked to join a new Facebook group to send talk show pundit Rush Limbaugh to Costa Rica, where he facetiously said he’d move if the controversial bill passed. Liberals bristle when friends blast “Obamacare.”
Kelli Burns, an assistant professor of mass communications at the University of South Florida and an expert on social media, says she first began seeing the creep of politics into social sites during the last presidential election.
But the rabid debate online over the House-approved healthcare bill is the strongest sign yet that social media is taking a turn for the political.
People, as usual, are searching for validation, says Burns, author of “Celeb 2.0: How Social Media Foster Our Fascination with Popular Culture.”
“If people like you comment on your posts, you have worth,” she says. “People are willing to risk criticism to find that.”
Lorraine Margeson of St. Petersburg is a strong supporter of the healthcare bill and isn’t afraid to let her Facebook friends know it.
“I talk politics all the time,” she says. “I don’t have problems at all with civility, as folks know better than to go there with me. I don’t talk politics about anything that I am not thoroughly familiar with, and I can counter an argument with indisputable facts. I am never rude.”
Jennifer Danison, who is majoring in architecture at USF, says she enjoys reading a lively debate on Facebook, as long as everyone remains civil and ready to argue their sides with intelligence.
“A lot of my peers have touched on the bill, and I accept their views,” says Danison, whose family is more conservative than her friends. “That’s the point of social networking – sharing your beliefs and what you stand for.”
She also says she learns from the discussions.
“I don’t keep up with politics or watch the news, so if my friends are talking about something on Facebook, I’ll go look it up.”
The downside, says Burns, is that some people may believe they’ve fulfilled their civic duty if they comment online.
“You don’t have to go to too much trouble,” she says. “But will they then take the next step and contact their senators? So I’m not sure that’s a good thing.”
If someone is too offensive, Facebook provides remedies. By clicking on the “hide” icon to the right of a post, incoming messages can be blocked. And if a Facebook friend is becoming foe, there’s always the option to block that person altogether.
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